The problem
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2016 Civic vehicles manufactured September 22, 2015, to February 3, 2016 and equipped with 2.0L engines. The affected vehicles have engines with piston assemblies that may have been manufactured without a piston wrist pin circlip or with an incorrectly installed piston wrist pin circlip.
The risk
If a circlip is missing or incorrectly installed, the piston wrist pin may not be secure and may drift and damage the engine cylinder causing the engine to seize, and increasing the risk of a crash or a fire.
The fix
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the piston assemblies and damaged engine components, as necessary, free of charge. Parts are expected to be available in the Summer of 2016. Owners were mailed an interim notification beginning March 31, 2016, and will be mailed a second notice when parts are available. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is JX9.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 16V-074 (16V074000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer number | JX9 |
| Manufacturer | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) |
| Component | Engine and engine cooling › Engine |
| Report date | February 9, 2016 |
| Owners notified | March 25, 2016 |
| Vehicles affected | 42,129 |
| Initiated by | Manufacturer |
Vehicles covered
Owner complaints about the engine & cooling
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 16V-074 repair free?
Yes. Honda dealers will fix the problem at no cost: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the piston assemblies and damaged engine components, as necessary, free of charge. Parts are expected to be available in the Summer of 2016.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 42,129 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.